Alternatives · Journaling
Daybook alternatives
Daybook compared with 7 alternatives: Journey, Day One, Penzu, Diaro, Diarium and 2 more.
Daybook has a free plan. Paid plans start at $3.49 per month, or $39.99 per year. All 7 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
7 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 6, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| DaybookThis tool | Free plan · from $3.49/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Journey | Free plan · from $17.99 one-time | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Day One | Free plan · from $49.99/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Penzu | Free plan · from $19.99/yr | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Diaro | Free plan · from $8.99/yr | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Diarium | Free plan · from $14.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Easy Diary | Free | Free | Android |
| My Diary | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | Yes | iOS, Android |
How each one differs from Daybook
- Free plan · from $17.99 one-time
Journey
Cross-platform diary with maps, mood tracking and guided programs
- Journey starts at $17.99 one-time per platform, or $49.99 per year for Membership. Daybook starts at $3.49 per month, or $39.99 per year.
- Only Journey lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Journey is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Daybook also covers dictation.
Suits: People who want one journal on phone, desktop (including Linux) and web
- Free plan · from $49.99/yr
Day One
Encrypted journal for text, photos, audio and video across devices
- Day One starts at $49.99 per year. Daybook starts at $3.49 per month, or $39.99 per year.
- Only Day One lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Only Day One lists a browser extension.
- Day One is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Day One also covers transcription and Markdown.
Suits: People who want one journal across Apple, Android, Windows and the web
- Free plan · from $19.99/yr
Penzu
Private online journal for the browser, with iOS and Android apps
- Penzu starts at $19.99 per year, or $4.99 per month. Daybook starts at $3.49 per month, or $39.99 per year.
- Penzu can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Penzu also covers long-form writing.
- Daybook also covers dictation, templates and mood tracking.
Suits: People who mostly write at a computer in a web browser
- Free plan · from $8.99/yr
Diaro
Diary and notes app that syncs through your own Dropbox
- Diaro starts at $8.99 per year (US App Store in-app purchase). Daybook starts at $3.49 per month, or $39.99 per year.
- Daybook also covers dictation and templates.
Suits: People who want a simple diary organized by folders, tags and places
- Free plan · from $14.99 one-time
Diarium
Private journal with a one-time Pro purchase and your own cloud sync
- Diarium starts at $14.99 one-time purchase per platform. Daybook starts at $3.49 per month, or $39.99 per year.
- Only Diarium lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Only Daybook lists a web app.
- Diarium can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Daybook also covers dictation.
Suits: People who want to pay once instead of subscribing
- Free
Easy Diary
Free, open-source diary app for Android with no ads
- Easy Diary is free. Daybook starts at $3.49 per month, or $39.99 per year.
- Only Daybook lists a web app.
- Only Daybook lists an iOS app.
- Easy Diary is open source, according to its own site.
- Daybook also covers templates and mood tracking.
Suits: Android users who want a free diary with no ads and no paid tier
- Free plan · from $2.99/mo
My Diary
Locked diary with themes, stickers and a mood calendar
- My Diary starts at $2.99 per month (US App Store in-app purchase). Daybook starts at $3.49 per month, or $39.99 per year.
- Only Daybook lists a web app.
- My Diary can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Daybook also covers dictation and templates.
Suits: People who want a decorated diary with themes, stickers and fonts
Limits worth knowing in Daybook
- Vendor prices disagree: the website shows Pro at $3.49 a month or $39.99 a year, while the US App Store lists Premium at $4.49 a month, $29.99 a year or $94.99 once.
- Mood analytics, AI features, custom templates, themes, higher-resolution photos and the full set of guided journals need the paid tier.
- Entries are stored in Daybook's cloud and encrypted in transit; the site does not claim end-to-end encryption.
- No Mac or Windows app is listed, so desktop use is through the web app. The App Store shows the iOS app's last update as November 2024.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Daybook?
The alternatives to Daybook in this directory are Journey, Day One, Penzu, Diaro, Diarium, Easy Diary and My Diary. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Daybook.
Is there a free alternative to Daybook?
Yes. Easy Diary is free to use. Journey, Day One, Penzu, Diaro, Diarium and My Diary have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Daybook alternatives work on Windows?
The Daybook listing does not include a Windows app. Journey, Day One and Diarium list one.
Which Daybook alternatives work on macOS?
The Daybook listing does not include a macOS app. Journey, Day One and Diarium list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Daybook?
Easy Diary is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 6, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.